Former president Jacob Zuma's name influenced a senior national defence official into issuing a flight clearance for the Gupta aircraft landing in Waterkloof, the judicial commission of inquiry into state capture has heard.

Major Thabo Ntshisi who works at the military base's command post told the inquiry on Thursday that he took a decision when he was told that Zuma knew about the visit. During his testimony, Ntshisi was read out telephone transcripts between him and Lieutenant Colonel Christine Anderson.

In the conversation, Anderson mentions "Number 1" adding that he "knows about this visit".